Xbox Presents: Stranger Than Heaven Live Reaction - Kinda Funny Gamescast

Summary

Kinda Funny Gamescast: Xbox Presents Stranger Than Heaven Live Reaction

Episode Date: May 7, 2026
Hosts: Greg Miller, Blessing Adeoye Jr., Snowbike Mike, Roger Pokorny

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Episode Overview

This special episode of the Kinda Funny Gamescast focuses on the crew's live reactions and in-depth analysis of the “Xbox Presents: Stranger Than Heaven” presentation. Stranger Than Heaven is a new action-adventure game from RGG Studio, spanning five eras and five cities in modern Japan. The hosts discuss their impressions of the presentation, dissect gameplay innovations, debate the evolution of the Yakuza franchise, and touch upon unique features such as the music creation system and Snoop Dogg’s unexpected involvement.

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Main Discussion Points & Insights

1. Initial Impressions of the Presentation

• Xbox’s Presentation Style:
  • The crew praised the high production values, on-location filmmaking, and broader context provided about the game (04:33).
  • “Whenever they do these direct style presentations, they're the best game killer. Like nobody does it better than them in my opinion for this type of [presentation].” – Blessing (04:37)
• Immediate Reactions to Game Reveal:
  • The announcement of a winter release and Game Pass day one excited the group, though some were hoping for a sooner launch (03:01).
  • Roger speculated a February release, matching the usual Yakuza schedule (03:15).

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2. Personal Histories with RGG/Yakuza Games

• Blessing:
  • Has played ~10 hours of multiple Yakuza and Judgment titles but never finished one despite always enjoying the start. Found the Stranger Than Heaven pitch especially compelling and accessible (03:39).
• Snowbike Mike:
  • Self-described “Like a Dragon guy,” with most experience on recent titles. Sees Stranger Than Heaven as an inviting entry point and praises its blend of familiar and fresh elements (05:32).
• Greg Miller:
  • Longtime reviewer of Yakuza games but admits to eventually burning out from the formulaic nature and side activities. Likes the focus on protagonist Makoto and his narrative, hoping the mini-games tie more directly into the main story (06:48).
• Roger Pokorny:
  • The RGG expert, who has voiced concerns about formula stagnation in past reviews. Finds Stranger Than Heaven "feels fresh and new because it's in this brand new package," positioning it as both a bridge and a new start for the studio (08:28).

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3. Game Structure, Tone, and Accessibility

• Story and Character Focus:
  • The focus on Makoto’s life story across eras excites the team for its narrative clarity and cinematic aspirations (07:48).
  • The game draws influences from crime dramas and even mafia stories, providing a grittier, more grounded aesthetic than some recent Yakuza entries (14:13).
• Balancing Goofiness and Seriousness:
  • They note that, though the tone appears serious, Yakuza always balances drama with “absurd” humor and side quests (15:00, 15:49).
• Attempts to Ease in New Players:
  • The name and branding suggest this is more than a spin-off, aiming to win both new and existing fans (11:15, 11:58).

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4. Gameplay Details & Innovations

• Combat System:
  • The unique control scheme lets players operate Makoto’s left and right limbs independently, promising tactical depth and a break from Yakuza beat-em-up tradition (18:04, 18:52).
    • “The idea of operating both of your arms and legs with ... different controls ... that’s gonna be really interesting to see how that plays out, how fun that can be.” – Snowbike Mike (18:04)
  • Fans hope this more focused combat avoids the “enemy sponge” issue of recent Yakuza games and keeps encounters tight (21:06).
• RPG Elements:
  • Speculation that Stranger Than Heaven will feature “upgrade city” style progression rather than hardcore RPG systems (21:55).
• Side Activities & Mini-Games:
  • Discussion about the infamous overload of side activities in Yakuza, which can stall the main story. There’s hope for better balance here, with side content being more narratively integrated (13:19, 16:53).

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5. Music Creation and Management Sim Features

• Collecting Sounds:
  • Makoto’s in-game ability to record environmental sounds and craft compositions provides a fresh twist. Each era, location, and action can result in new auditory material for players to remix (26:24).
    • “He can walk up to sounds happening in the world around him and select them to save as a recording ... these sounds can vary based on era, location, or time of day.” – Greg (26:24)
  • The possibility of using combat sounds (like a curb stomp) for a beat led to laughs (27:13).
• Business/Showmanship Management:
  • Players will manage gigs, recruit musicians, and set lists—typical RGG mini-game flair, but here it’s deeply embedded in the narrative (27:32, 28:05).
    • Roger is especially excited: "That's my favorite part of those mini games ... I've always wanted something like this" (28:26).
  • Mike, less interested in the management sim, prefers the focus on the main plot, but Blessing and Roger see potential for deeper engagement (28:53).

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6. Snoop Dogg’s Role

• Snoop Dogg voices Orpheus, a character seemingly prominent in the earliest era.
  • Mike: “Snoop Dogg was everywhere, right?” (32:40)
• Mixed reactions:
  • Mike is excited to see Snoop’s range in a more dramatic role.
  • Roger is skeptical, unconvinced by Snoop’s acting chops and wary of “gimmick casting” (34:17).
    • “If they're gonna be a main character, you have to be good ... Snoop Dogg, I can't look at you and be like, You're Orpheus.” – Roger (34:51)

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7. Narrative Structure & Timeline Speculation

• The story traverses 1915, 1929, 1943, 1951, and 1965, but the hosts debate if these are experienced linearly or with time jumps (35:23).
  • “I hope this is not linear ... I think it’s more interesting if we’re jumping back and forth.” – Roger (35:23)

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8. Community & Final Thoughts

• The live chat was lively, resonating with both hardcore and casual fans.
• The team widely agreed Xbox and RGG delivered an excellent presentation, with several proclaiming Stranger Than Heaven a “must-buy” after watching.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Game Presentation: “Let's really give you a vibes package to wrap around this presentation.” – Greg (04:43)
• On Series Fatigue and Need for Change: “We're at this point now where I've seen the same thing ... I see the formula in front of me. This ... feels fresh and it feels new.” – Roger (08:28)
• On Combat: “I think that is something fresh, something different ... using L2 and R2 together ... that's gonna be really interesting to see how that plays out.” – Snowbike Mike (18:04)
• On Music Feature: “How disrespectful would it be ... to like curb stomp somebody and then use that sound to make a fucking sick ass beat?” – Roger (27:13)
• On Snoop Dogg Casting: “You have to be good. You have to be, like, really good, especially in the voice acting role ... I can't look at you and be like, you're Orpheus.” – Roger (34:51)

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Key Timestamps

• 00:31: Show intro & immediate reactions
• 03:30: Hosts’ RGG/Yakuza backgrounds
• 05:26: First impressions on Stranger Than Heaven
• 08:28: Roger on RGG’s evolution and formula
• 13:19: Discussing core gameplay loop and side-content fatigue
• 18:04: Combat system deep dive & gameplay innovations
• 26:24: Music creation & sound collection mechanic explained
• 28:26: Reaction to management sim/business elements
• 32:25: Discussion on Snoop Dogg’s role and impact
• 35:23: Debate about story structure/timeline
• 36:01: Overall verdict on presentation quality & hype

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Closing Thoughts

The team left the discussion feeling enthused and genuinely impressed by both the game and the way Xbox & RGG unveiled it. Stranger Than Heaven, while carrying the DNA of Yakuza, promises a fresh take with its era-spanning story, new combat system, and integrated music/management mechanics. The involvement of Snoop Dogg is seen as a wild card, but the game’s ambitions and polish make it one of 2026’s most anticipated titles—and a potential new torchbearer for RGG Studio.

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For further reactions (including laughter about Snoop, comparisons to other game presentations, and continued analysis), jump to the corresponding timestamps or visit youtube.com/kindafunnygames.

Transcript

[Host (Sponsor Reader)]

Join Rocket money [e-mail] kindafunny head to factorymeals.com kindafunny 50 off and use code kinda funny 50 off to get 50 off and free daily greens per box. Use promo code Kind of [e-mail] for 25 off their Carver map frame. If you want to get our shows ad free and our exclusive shows go to patreon.com kindafunny.

[Greg Miller]

What's up everybody? Welcome to one of your Kind of Funny games cast for the day. Of course it's Wednesday, May 6, 2026. I'm one of your hosts Greg Miller alongside Blessing at a oh yea junior Good day Greg Snow Bike Mike what up Greg and RGG super fan Roger Pokorny what up? We of course just reacted to the Xbox presents Stranger Than Heaven Live presentation. Of course if you didn't see the reaction you're listening or watching later. YouTube.com kindafunnygames to watch us go through the entire 30 minute presentation and I'd say be pretty impressed. But before I get into these gentlemen's reactions and my own, I'll remind you this is the Gamescast. We're live each and every day with the biggest topics in video games, whether they be previews, reviews or just things we need to talk about. Of course, if you want to talk with us as we are live YouTube.com kind of funny games so many of you have already jumped in and have things to say. You're freaking out. You're having a great time. Samson XP says Snowbike Mike Crime Boss Tokyo City when there was a conversation of did you write the dialogue in this? And then I like loyal freak here who goes I'm not really into the Yakuza type games, but holy shit I'm very into this might be a must play. We might think the same thing for Stranger Than Heaven. Of course we wouldn't have thoughts opinions that we could share with you if not for your support on all the membership platforms. YouTube.com kind of funny games patreon.com kindafunny Apple Spotify get the shows ad free your daily dose of me and get good karma. Thank you for all the good karma you've given us. Our Patreon producers Carl Jacobs, Omega Buster and Delaney the Psalm Twining for now, let's begin the show with what is and forever will be topic of the show. Tots tots Tots Tots Tots Tots. I said it at the top Reminder. This is actually your second games cast of the day we did a Star Fox Reaction earlier. And so if you want to see Tim Getty's heartbreak into live on camera, go watch that. I digress. For now, of course, it was the Xbox presents Stranger Than Heaven Live Reaction. An epic saga of men battling through five eras in five cities. Stranger than Ranger Than Heaven is an entirely new action adventure game from RGG Studio and takes place over five distinct eras of modern Japan and across five entirely separate cities. Of course, we just reacted to the 30 minute thing. We will be rolling through it. The big news at the end. Of course this will be coming this winter Xbox game pass day one. You excited about that, Roger?

[Roger Pokorny]

Winter, you know, I mean, I'm looking for that release that I understand. Everything's shaking and moving. Right. We got GTA on the horizon. You know, GTA can one day just, you know, flip, slip and fall and then it's out of. It's out of the year.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

Right.

[Roger Pokorny]

And then they can come in and

[Snowbike Mike]

they're in winter, right?

[Roger Pokorny]

Yeah, exactly. Then they're in there. But it makes sense. But I'm a little. I didn't want this.

[Greg Miller]

You wanted this more imminently?

[Roger Pokorny]

Yeah, I wanted this.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. For you. Right off the bat, before we even get into it. What does winter mean to you? When do you think you're playing this?

[Roger Pokorny]

February. People are calling it out. That's usually where the Yakuza game lies. February, January, ish. That's where we got Infinite Wealth. That's where we got the latest Yakuza 3. So makes sense. February seems like a good bet.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah, that's what I called over there as well. But enough about that blessing. I want to start with you.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

Oh.

[Greg Miller]

What is your history with RGG games, Yakuza, judgment, et cetera. And then what did you think at top level of Stranger Than Heaven?

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

Yeah, I have a sad trend when it comes to RGG action games, action RPGs, whatever you want to call them, where I always put in about 10 hours before I fall.

[Greg Miller]

Okay, okay.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

I've tried legitimately, like four different Yakuza games, plus Judgment 2 Lost Judgment. Probably put in about 10 hours each into like Yakuza Kiwami 0, like a dragon, Infinite Wealth, Lost Judgment and just fall off every single time. And it's never a thing of. I'm having a bad time. Sure. It's never that. It's always. This isn't gripping me in the way of like, I'm gonna put in 40 more hours into this and I drop off. This, however, is. Is speaking to me, I think in Somewhat of a different way. Could history repeat itself? Sure. But there's something about the way they're presenting this that is really working for me. One, I want to shout out the Xbox production team that they always do for these developer directs. I always assume it's Tina Amini's team, but I'm never.

[Greg Miller]

I do believe so. Yeah. Tim was talking about her earlier on Games Daily being involved with the game.

[Roger Pokorny]

Yeah.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

Whenever they do these direct style presentations, they're the best game killer. Like nobody does it better than them in my opinion for this type of.

[Greg Miller]

And this was so stylized. This wasn't even just the developer direct we've seen so many times and adore the. This was. Let's go on location, let's have extras in the background. Let's really give you a vibes package to wrap around this presentation.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

And I love it. Like, let's talk to people who are working on the game. Let's talk to in this case, celebrities that we have starring in the. In the game and really break down why people should get excited about this. Yeah, the production was fantastic. And everything that we're seeing in here is really exciting. Whether it be the combat that looks really fun, whether it be unexpected features, the whole music system they got here of you collecting sounds throughout the world and putting together this production, I think is really inspired. The story setup here, it being still tied to Yakuza, but not in a way that makes me scared. In a way that does make me intrigued, actually, I think is really cool. And so overall, I think this is a fantastic production.

[Greg Miller]

Snow Bicycle. Michael, same question for you. Your history in the past with rgg and what do you come away with? This.

[Snowbike Mike]

Yeah, I'm a like a dragon guy, right. Ichiban and the crew are my guys. And then of course now like a dragon pirate. Yakuza is my latest and greatest Yakuza adventure. And so for me, there's a big blind spot here with the Yakuza proper right there. And so I am looking to finally dive into the series. And similar to Bless, I echo a lot of what he said. This presentation was very well done. Right. Xbox and RGG teaming up together to have a very well done presentation. That it is a game that you know, right, everyone, when you think Yakuza, your mind goes exactly to what these Yakuza games have been over the past. Right? But they've done a good job of like, it feels so familiar, but also so new.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

Right?

[Snowbike Mike]

And like, you see the touchstones, you're making a band, you're out Promoting this band, it's like, oh, well, karaoke I've done so many times. They have so many things that, you know with Jacuzza, but also felt so fresh and so new. And that was a great job to the presentation with all the different people coming on and telling the story of what you're going to experience in the game to also the game. Right. This is a big deal of there's so many Yakuza games and like I said, you know what they are. But to have something so familiar but so fresh at the same time, I think is a big win for this. So for me, I'm walking away with two thumbs up, like, hey, this was a good time and this looks like a good game.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

Yeah.

[Greg Miller]

Before I go to Roger, because he is our RGG expert at the table expert. You know, I reviewed Yakuza for many different installments at IGN and enjoyed them, but eventually Yakuza doubt I was like, okay, good, I'm going to push back. And judgment is a similar thing where I've started judgment and lost judgment, have enjoyed them for double digit hours and. But it's that there's so much to go and do there that I kind of eventually lose steam. I feel like I. I lose focus in the same way in a Yakuza game of so many minigames, so many different things going on. I feel like I can do that as well. What I love about what they're presenting so far is making this so much Makoto story. Right. And we're with him through his entire life. Like we're talking, let's stick with this. Let's go through 1915-1929-1943-1951, 1960, and tell his story and how it intertwines here with you as they go back and forth between being antagonists to some degree, to being business partners, to being whatever that whole narrative is going to be. I love that focus of it and in that same breath, I love the focus of what they're doing with the hey, let's make music. And you have this talent and you can queue in on it and ground that then into the mini games people love so much from the Yakuza series. But let's make it not so much side content as much as what feels like main content in terms of let's get the band together, let's put them in here, let's manage them, let's put up posters, like giving all the fun, quirky stuff we know from these games a backbone narratively for me, speaks to, ooh, I like That a lot. And I am interested Roger, as I want your overall opinions. If you think you're still gonna see the same amount of goofy ass minigames in whatever wander off. Because for me, huge thumbs up. Can't wait for this. But Roger.

[Roger Pokorny]

Yeah, no, you bring up a good point. I think that's maybe I'm 5050 on it, right? Because for me this was such a successful presentation in so many different ways. Just showing the game, the game looks gorgeous. Getting us to understand what this game is because for so long was a big question mark of like this is project century, right? This is this big idea. They're showing all these different places, different characters. What's the vibe here? They explained it. I think they over explained it in some places. I think they could have pulled back and just showed us some gameplay. But either it doesn't matter, they did it. I think they did a great job there. But I, I do think they did an amazing job of getting you all involved into what Yakuza is. Right? Because Yakuza, if you were to do a presentation of maybe Yakuza 0, you can kind of hone it in and make it feel like this. Not to the same extent.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

Right.

[Roger Pokorny]

Of course, doesn't have different combat, doesn't have, you know, a lot of these certain things that they're, they're, they're adding on to the franchise. But you can really make it feel like oh, it is this, this one character and this and their, their relationship and they're building and this is this, yada, yada, yada, this. So I wonder how much of what they're showing here is just them being like, hey, we're trying to get many people to get into the Yakuza format and make it feel like it's not really Yakuza, but it is Yakuza for the hardcore fans. Right. Immediately off the rip, they mentioned the Tojo clan, right. So the hardcores are in. Right. But that doesn't really mean anything to y', all. So that's okay. So I am 5050 on it. I can see them having those, you know, extraneous insane side quests where there's a naked guy running around, you have to kind of stop him or whatever. I'm sure you're going to get one or two of those. But I deep down hope that this more easy to pick up and to not scare off the people that maybe are not wanting those insane side quests necessarily. But yeah, this was extremely exciting and this is what I wanted. Rgg. This is. I wanted them for so long we talked about in the Yakuza 3 review, where I was very adamant of like, hey, like, RGG needs to figure it out a little bit. Where it's like we're doing the same thing over and over and over. They are reusing assets all the time. It's not bad. I love when, you know, artists and creatives are able to take assets and make a new game really fast that is, you know, sustainable for them. But we're at this point now where I've seen the same thing. You are adding. You're adding side stuff that is just not working. It feel. I see the formula in front of me. This. I'm watching all this. I'm like, I see theoretically where the formula is, but I don't. You know what I mean? Like, I see the. I just feel the excitement for this game and I want to do it all. Even if, you know, you were to, you know, go into space and you look down from it. Okay, this is kind of what they did over here in this game. This is kind of what they do in this game. It feels fresh and it feels new because it's in this brand new package. And I'm very excited for the future of RGG after this game, too, because I hope that this is the beginning of a new generation for them and what they're going to do with not only rgg. I mean, sorry, not only Stranger Than Heaven, Virtua Fighter, and of course, Yakuza, the future.

[Greg Miller]

Do you see them straying from Yakuza, or is that going to be the place where this lives? Just like, we're just, you know, like a dragon. We're going to be.

[Roger Pokorny]

What's interesting about this is, like, I wouldn't be surprised if there was a long conversation with them of like, is this a Yakuza game? Like, do we just call this Yakuza? I'm sure that in the early development stages, this game was called Yakuza something, right? And then to be like, well, what are we trying to do here? Are we trying to make something new that people can get into the franchise? So it's not just the same people that we're selling to, or are we, you know, just going to say this is the. Because if you call Yakuza, right, inherently, Yakuza fans are going to be like, this is not what I'm looking for. I like this, but I missed this thing, right? So I think this is a marriage of both worlds. I do hope, again, like, that this is the beginning of them making this and then looking at Yakuza proper and saying, okay, what can we change here? What can we actually build off of? What can we take from this game and use their ass, the assets from here and kind of make Yakuza better.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

So also like, it was a beginning because we. We're naming a bunch of different games, right? But if you call Yakuza, I think you have the inherent thing of, oh, it's a spin off. But this obviously is not just a spin off. This is something that they're looking at as a new big game. But it's also not Judgment, right? Because Judgment was a. Here's a new title. But it happens to be in the Yakuza universe, if I remember correctly. Yeah, this feels like a fresh new beginning. That could be something that possibly stands right beside Yakuza. Something that's as important as them, as that to them, right? As far as franchising out making something that feels full fledged, like, you wouldn't do this for a Yakuza Ishin. You wouldn't do this for a, you know, for a judgment. You're doing this for something that you see as here's a new north for us to chase as a studio. Like, we want to keep making this something special for us. Which has me excited because the fact that it's not Yakuza, right? I know I don't want to over or I guess misguide myself as far as what the game's actually going to be. Because yes, it's probably going to have all those Yakuza elements, right? And I. I think there's probably a deep dive we could have here as far as like a therapy session in terms of like, what turns us off from Yakuza and what turns us off. Because for me, it's not even sure

[Greg Miller]

all of this because for me, I

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

don't think it's like the side activities in the weird shit that turns me off from Yakuza. Maybe it is.

[Roger Pokorny]

Is it the formulaic nature of it all? I think that's what even turns me off at a certain point. When you say formulaic nature of like, you know what you're getting, right? It's not necessarily fully voice acted in some point, right? Yeah, exactly. Yeah.

[Greg Miller]

I fight a bunch of guys in the street like that. That for me, after so many Yakuzas, right, Is that I feel like. And I know sometimes I work and I've used this as a joke before, but like I'm at that endless content trough when I'm like, all right, can we just get on the main golden path and just get me there and give me the great cutscenes in this. Like, I don't want to run around and chase and find this one person, this thing, and do the stuff I've done a million times.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

Yeah, yeah, I see that. I feel like, for me, it's the specific stories that I've experienced in Yakuza that feel. It's weird because I like goofy, but there's something about the Yakuza goofy that's like. It peers into the gameplay as well, where, like, when I'm playing as Ichiban and I'm doing, like all this weird shit, like, there's something that. That's here that is. That feels more grounded and more real and more gritty. And I think that is when I see the blood spew and all that, which I know Yakuza has. Has as well. There's something about that guy.

[Roger Pokorny]

Not like that. Okay.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

There's something that this has here that I'm like, yeah, this feels more dirty.

[Greg Miller]

Yes. Again, this feels fresh. Right? Where again, like, when you look at. And this is. I know I get flack for this when I talk about it, but, like, one of the reasons I, you know, just fel. Was that I felt like once I had played several of them, I had played them like, you start the next one, and it still is the same city. It still is the same look. It's still every. Like to be into this different time period, sure. But what looks to be a. You know, I'm obviously in the past, so I don't have all the, you know, my cell phone and everything else to it. This jazz club, this feel like it, you know, to be so reductive. Like, it's got a bunch of mafia influences, whether we're talking about the games or the movies. I also look at it and see a lot of sinners. And I'm not saying that they're stealing, but I mean, like, he, guess what? It's you and me versus the world. And we go through these, you know, years of what's going on with them. Like, okay, cool.

[Roger Pokorny]

Which is. It's. It's funny, right? Because I see this a little bit as Yakuza 0, or at least Kiryu's story of Yakuza 0, which is him and his brother essentially going through the yakuza ranks and something big happens and yada, yada, yada. This is. It's interesting because it's like, this is so serious, right? From what we've seen, right. They have not really shown us the light hearted side of this. I mean you have Snoop Dogg in here, but he's playing a, a serious character, right? I mean Orpheus, yeah, Orpheus never forget. And his son also in there who can't talk about his character, but we can talk about Orpheus. So they're not really showing like the. And I think that's what's so special about Yakuza for me. And that's what's pushed me through all the repetitive nature to a point. Yakuza 3 is kind of my breaking point of it is the serious nature of this. It is this brothership, it is love, it is, you know, beautiful. And then it's just the most absurd thing in the world contrasted.

[Greg Miller]

And let me dive in on that because over here it's happening too. Game happens in the Twitch chat. I would argue the main story in Yakuza is pretty damn serious. I would as well. And if you remember the old stories from ign, it was that we went to TGS and it was when they were showing, they just, they did the debut trailers for Yakuza 4 and then it was that 3's coming over to America. And that was the first one I reviewed for ign. And my review is so hung up on comparing it to GTA because that forest trailer and then the trailers they showed for three made it seem like, yeah, you're going to be getting this gritty crime drama, which you do, but you also have a woman on a moped hitting a thing, doing a full 360, whipping out your phone to order a pizza.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

When I think back to Infinite wealth, right? Like we're talking about the main story. But I think there's also the thing of like the main path of the game that involves me, you know, collecting enemies like Pokemon, doing go karts and doing go kart stuff and going on dates and like, you know, I think there's an element of even mainline core Yakuza involves all these goofy activities.

[Roger Pokorny]

And I think, sorry not to go. I do think it's. That's the issue that Yakuza has been facing and I've been fighting with the community a little bit because I think there's a sect of the community that really likes this, right? That really likes it, wants to experience that, the side stuff. But I do think that the games have gotten over bloated where it's like, hey, you have all the side stuff. We're going to force you to do it in the main quest. Why are you doing that? Just let me just do a pop up thing. Hey, you can Go over here and date people if you want. Let me just do the main quest. Like, I don't want to do that necessarily. I don't want the flow of the game to stop. And I. Again, I'm saying all this. I think that's gonna happen here. I think that's just rgg. It's just a matter of how they contextualize it. How goofy are we getting?

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

And I also wonder how is how much of it is also how deep we are into Yakuza, where by the time you get to Yakuza 8, it's like, well, this is what this is now. Whereas here you have a ground floor

[Roger Pokorny]

to where we can reboot.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

Yeah. Like the side activity slash the. The thing that you're doing that's ulterior to crime is making music and being a stage. Right. And then you get to the next one and. All right, here's another thing. By the time we get to. What's this game called? Stranger Than Heaven.

[Roger Pokorny]

Yeah, yeah.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

By the time we get to Stranger Than Hell, it's gonna be like, okay, well, now you're running a trampoline business.

[Greg Miller]

Mike, for you, what stood out as your favorite thing you saw in this trailer?

[Snowbike Mike]

The combat, definitely, Greg. I mean, there's a lot, right? The music was really awesome. We heard that, of course, the big theme and the song. Snoop Dogg singing as well. Something we'll talk about. But the combat, to me, right there, I think that is something fresh, something different, Right. I think when we talk about Yakuza and its lineage, you know, the combat, right. And how do you change that? How do you evolve that? How do you make that something fresh feeling? And we brought up sleeping dogs on the look of it, right? You look at and you go, oh, man, I identify with this, but the idea of operating both of your arms and legs with the different controls of R1 and R2, L2 and L2 or L1, that's gonna be really interesting to see how that plays out, how fun that can be. What kind of cool, unique moments I can create when I get faced with, hey, there's three guys in front of you. What are you going to do? And how do you build off of that?

[Greg Miller]

Let me sprinkle in some of the Xbox Wire for folks who are just joining us on the audio side maybe and didn't watch this entire presentation. What makes this system particularly unique and compelling is that the player controls the left and right sides of Makoto independently. In practice, you'll use RB and R2. I'm sorry, RB and RT. I forgot where I'm reading from. To control Makoto's right arm and leg and LB&LT to maneuver his left arm and left leg. In the show, we see his right arm being held by an enemy and he's still able to attack with his left. Alongside combo systems, players can charge up their attacks by holding a button down and releasing it at the right moment. For a more powerful hit, players can block with one arm and then counterattack with a swift attack from the other, or tackle an enemy using L2 and R2 to R RT and LT together. Observing an enemy's actions to see what moves they'll pull makes for a compelling dynamic combat experience, which is as much about reading the Rul Room as it is about hitting the right inputs. Plus, you wanted combat. That was something you were talking about and tackles and all that stuff. Is this speaking to you in terms of your fighting game poppy regimen?

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

Oh yeah, this for sure is speaking to me. Yeah. I think there's something again, I don't want to like hate on Yakuza, right? Because I do.

[Roger Pokorny]

I.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

Because I think those games are great, right from what I played of them, and I think the combat systems in the games are great as well. But I think this is a chance for them to do something different. When we first saw the original trailers for Stranger Than Heaven, I remember seeing a little bit of combat in those trailers and, you know, kind of piqued my interest because there was something about it that looked a little bit more deliberate. And now that we have the breakdown of it. Yeah, like, I like the idea of the. Each limb being tied to a different shoulder button. I think the example they give of, oh yeah, somebody is going to grab your left arm and then you can punch with your right arm. That sounds really cool. That sounds unlike games I played before.

[Greg Miller]

Right.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

That sounds fresh and new. And this is a studio I associate with fun combat. This is a studio I associate with pushing things. Especially when we're talking about a thing like, like virtual fighter coming up.

[Roger Pokorny]

Right.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

And so like, I think that sounds cool. I like the weapons they showed as well. The fact that you're out here with a, like a blade type weapon and you can like slash people's legs or whatever. That's really cool. It doesn't look arcady like I expected in a beat em up. But also it's not like an automatic kill sort of thing that you would get in the last of us. It is, hey, I'm slashing, I'm doing this thing. I think that. I think it all looks really cool.

[Roger Pokorny]

It is, it's really, really smart that they are differentiating this from the Koryakuza with the combat. Right. Especially with where Yakuza has gone. Especially not in the turn based games like the actual, like the latest Yakuza 3 and man erase His Name where it's just hordes of enemies. Right. They're just becoming a dinosaurs game at a certain point. So to pull this fully back and just be like, no, it's three people and it doesn't seem like they're like bullet sponges or I guess hit sponges like the other games are like. It is like a few hits and they're down. And I, I, I was so happy to see that. I hope that's not just a demo thing of like, hey, we just want to speed it up a little bit. I do hope that, you know, it is like you, you 1v1 3, four hits, you're in, the person's down. Like that's what I want.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

Question. So like a dragon. The latest ones we would describe as an rpg, correct?

[Roger Pokorny]

Yeah, the turn based ones. Yeah, yeah.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

Where do we stand on this? Because like I'm, I'm wondering about progression, I'm wondering about RPG elements. I feel like we're not getting much of that out of this presentation.

[Roger Pokorny]

Well, so okay, so you have the like a dragon. Well, I guess they're all like a dragon now, so it's confusing. But you have like the Ichiban game. The Ichiban?

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

Yeah.

[Roger Pokorny]

I don't think you're gonna get that here. I think this is going to be Upgrade City. But you're not going to have like actual rpg, you know, because you're leveling

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

up in those games, right?

[Roger Pokorny]

Well, yeah, but that's more of just like. Yeah, like getting more power and like combos. Yeah, exactly, yeah. For those types of games. And then of course the Ichiban games are different, right?

[Greg Miller]

Yeah.

[Roger Pokorny]

Turn based.

[Greg Miller]

Very cool. Just like this presentation was. And there's a lot more to dive into. But before then, I'll remind you that we're kind of funny. We're here each and every day as live talk show kind of funny games daily kind of funny games cast in a slew of other things before we play video games. Like what? Roger.

[Roger Pokorny]

American Chopper.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah, we did American chopper for 20 minutes before star Fox decided to do a presentation.

[Snowbike Mike]

Best 20 minutes you've ever won.

[Greg Miller]

Best 20 minutes you've ever seen. Pick up a membership. YouTube.com kindafunnygames, Apple, Spotify and of course patreon.com kindafunny get all of our shows ad free. Get your daily dose of me in a daily podcast series called Greg Way. And of course get good karma for supporting an 11 person 11 year old small business. But right now you're not using your benefits, so here's a word from our sponsors.

[Host (Sponsor Reader)]

This episode's brought to you by Rocket Money. Rocket Money can track subscriptions and has the ability to cancel unwanted ones within the app with just a few taps, saving users over $880 million in canceled subscriptions. The amount of times that Snowbike Mike has signed up for something, forgot about it after the trial period ends and then charge. It's quite frankly terrifying. So many people have at least one paid subscription going unused each month. Thanks to Rocket Money. You can see all of your subscriptions in one place and cancel them within the app with just a few taps, saving time and avoiding charges. And the app consolidates checking, savings, loans and investments into a single dashboard. Rocket Money is a personal finance app that helps find and cancel unwanted subscriptions, monitors your spending, and helps lower your bills so you can grow your savings. Let Rocket Money help you reach your financial goals faster. [e-mail] kinda funny that's RocketMoney.com kinda funny this episode is brought to you by Factor. Sometimes hunger strikes and you are just exhausted or you're hosting shows back to back to back and you just don't have it in you to set up and prepare the whole meal that you thought you would have time for. That's why so many of us here at Kinda Funny Love Factor. Factor makes it easy with fully prepared meals designed by dietitians and crafted by chefs so you can eat well without the shopping or cooking. On many occasions, Factor has completely saved Greg and Jen when they needed it most. Every meal is crafted with functional ingredients, lean proteins, colorful veggies, whole foods and healthy fats. Factor bans 175 ingredients. Beans, no artificial colors or sweeteners, no high fructose corn syrup, no refined seed oils. Just nutrient dense food. Feel the difference no matter your routine? Head to factorymeals.com kindafunny 50 off and use code kinda funny 50 off to get 50% off and free daily greens per box with new subscription only while supplies last until September 27, 2026. See the website for more details. This episode is brought to you by Aura Francis Frames. Mother's Day is right around the corner and guess what I need to worry about for the very first time? Getting Gia a Mother's Day gift. But guess what? I'm not stressing at all because I got the perfect gift lined up to show off all the adorable pics. A little baby Samsam. This year, ditch the flowers and upgrade to the digital frame. All of Kinda Funny Loves the Aura Frame. With the Aura Frame, Greg's been able to constantly keep his mom updated with photos of her grandson via the Aura app. He just clicks the photo of little Benny as he's shredding on his skateboard all over here in San Francisco. How cool is that? By the way, it taps a button and it's on Jamie Kennedy's frame in Chicago named Number one by Wirecutter. You can save on the gifts moms love by visiting auraframes.com for a limited time. Listeners can get 25 off their best selling car for mat frame with the code Kinda Funny. That's a U R A frames.com promo code kinda Funny Support our show by mentioning us at checkout. Terms and conditions apply.

[Greg Miller]

A major part of Stranger Than Heaven revolves around Makoto and Yu's tenure as partners in show business, not least because Makoto has a great talent for music and quote a keen ability to find the music in everyday life, memorizing the sounds as ideas for future compositions. This translates to interesting game, an interesting gameplay mechanic. While exploring, he can walk up to sounds happening in the world around him and select them to save as a recording. Whether it's the noise of a sweeping broom, a passing train, or the thunk of an enemy hitting the curb during a combat sequence, these sounds can vary based on era, location, or time of day. At certain points in the game, he'll encounter composers and you'll be able to use the collected sounds to create original compositions that have different instruments and moods, and interesting mechanic that'll enable players to create some truly unique pieces of music. I can't fucking wait.

[Roger Pokorny]

How disrespectful would it be in this game to like curb stomp somebody and then use that sound to make a fucking sick ass beat?

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

Hold on, hold on. Bust out the recorder.

[Roger Pokorny]

Do it again.

[Greg Miller]

He got the recorder up in his face or whatever.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

Related I put up a post on Blues Guy asking what are the best Tori Kelly songs I want to know.

[Roger Pokorny]

Okay, yeah, that means a lot to me.

[Greg Miller]

I like that for you.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

Thank you.

[Roger Pokorny]

High five.

[Greg Miller]

Collecting sounds and composing ties into Makoto's wider calling as a showman, producing and managing gigs and performances for other artists. This is where Stranger Than Heaven incorporates management elements. Makoto will organize the structure of various shows, decide which musicians Will take part in it and choose a set list. During the broadcast. We see an example of this. Another key element is the management schedule is scouting. This all sounds so again, all the weird shit you do in these RGG games but giving it like a. Oh, I understand why I'd be doing all this, why I'm stopping whatever the main thing is to go make more money in my jazz club.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

It also feels like like particularly a lot of effort put into one weird thing.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

As opposed to like here's a bunch of stuff. Here's one thing that like we went off on and like it all comes together in a really fun way.

[Snowbike Mike]

They usually have some sort of management sim. Like you brought up the best clubs.

[Roger Pokorny]

Right.

[Snowbike Mike]

It always feels like one of them had. Every game has one thing where it's like, hey, this is our thing on the side.

[Roger Pokorny]

Yeah, but I've always wanted something like this. I mean that was my dream during Yakuza 0 is Majima is. Is the basically doing this where he is. It's like a hostess club, but it's like a big like event club and he's like the leader of it. And there's some light, you know, business management stuff. But it's never to this respect. And I, I. This is exactly what I wanted and dreamed of. Because that's my favorite part of those mini games is the management ones. And sadly they're not in every single one. So I'm excited that it's here.

[Snowbike Mike]

Yeah. I'm not a big music guy. Greg. This did not excite me at all. Seeing the. Did it ever tell you no. When I play the Yakuza games and we talk about this and we've kind of brought this up, it's like I am more of a mainline guy. I find when I start to do the side stuff, I get distracted. It slows down. And so yeah, the business management side of things, not really what I'm coming for here. Right. The two. The story of these two together is really what I'm coming for right now. Right. That's what I'm really excited about. This kind of grittier tone, I'm in for that. Right. So yeah. Seeing the music and like grabbing the music that's not speaking to me right there.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

I think sometimes with games like this, finding the side activity that's going to make me slow down is. Can often times be tough for me. This one, this is one that I might slow down for. Like I'm actually surprised by how. How into this. I am not, I guess not surprised in the Fact that I do like music and I like making music sometimes. So it works for me for that. But this is one that. That specific side activity makes me look at this game and go, go, Ah. This comes together. Like, I'm excited for this story, and I'm excited to take my time and, like, bust out my recorder and just listen to the street.

[Roger Pokorny]

I want this to go deep, though. Like, I don't want it to be. It's like, for me, I'm less excited about the music side of it because I'm sort of. With Mike, I like music, but I'm not, like. Like, doesn't excite me because of that. Yeah, I'm excited. I want the I want number go up. I want, like. I want to, like, build this up and be like, yeah, okay, yeah, we're promoting. We're getting the thing.

[Greg Miller]

I mean, it looks like you're doing that.

[Snowbike Mike]

Yeah.

[Roger Pokorny]

But I want, like, to truly be able to, like, I'm making money.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

I make the music. You promote the music.

[Greg Miller]

Oh, okay.

[Snowbike Mike]

I really do hope that we see, like, if Mike fails with the music, that bar is empty, right? They kind of showed him, like, hey, when you find your rhythm, you'll get more people. And it didn't look like the. The club was three times packed. It still looked like he was walking up against three bodies deep, right? So I do hope it's like, hey, when Mike misses there's only three people, they're like, hey, you fucked up on that. Try again. You know, it would be cool to see.

[Greg Miller]

I think it'll be interesting to see what balance they find, because you have to make it easy enough to be approachable, right? It can't be like, you're fucking. Go make it the best music track of all time. So I wonder if it's so simple it turns people off. But, like, for me, I see it being so much that I'm just gonna want to collect the sounds and build this library and have that thing to sit down and do. But I do feel like, yeah, getting to the band and being more interested with that would be where I'd want to go with that.

[Roger Pokorny]

I do kind of think it's interesting. Maybe I misread it or what they're going for, but, like, they were explaining, like, so it's kind of weird because they. They. He's not part of the Yakuza, and then he kind of becomes part of the Yakuza, but through the showman stuff, like, that's kind of the vibe that. It felt like that there.

[Greg Miller]

We'll See, Right.

[Roger Pokorny]

Yeah.

[Greg Miller]

He wants to make this place his own outer head.

[Roger Pokorny]

And then he has, like, somebody that's in the Yakuza that's underneath him, like, which is kind of an interesting dynamic there, which is somebody who's, like, building up. He didn't. I thought they were just gonna go fully, like, oh, he's part of the Yakuza from Get Go. Like, you know, rising to the ranks.

[Greg Miller]

Well, this falls into a chat from Mr. Hawks. Mr. Hawks, super chats. And says, I may have missed it, but is this main character, Makoto Tojo, founder of the Tojo clan? I cannot wait to play this game. Easily at the top of my list.

[Roger Pokorny]

Different name, right?

[Greg Miller]

As far as we know, they're identifying him as lead protagonist, Makoto Daito. So maybe there is a change in this and he becomes that or whatever. Yeah, that's the big swerve at the end to give it to you.

[Roger Pokorny]

But, yeah, he looks in the camera and he's like, there's no Daito anymore. It's Tojo.

[Greg Miller]

He's on a sandy planet. And this woman's like, who are you? Kodo Tojo.

[Roger Pokorny]

Stranger than Tojo.

[Greg Miller]

Michael the elephant in the room that we haven't given the full rundown of. The full review of is Snoop Dogg.

[Snowbike Mike]

Oh, big Snoop.

[Greg Miller]

What is Snoop Dogg? Oh, Snoop Dogg. How quickly does he die in this game? He's all over 1950, 1915 Kokura. Like, where is it? How you ain't making it into 1929. What happens?

[Snowbike Mike]

A lot of conversation in the chat of dates. Think Snoop Dogg will die off very early. Right? I actually thought Snoop Dogg was going to be in this for a lot longer than I think what the chat is thinking. I think he'll be in a sizable portion of this game. I think he is going to be the guiding force. I am interested to see the range of Snoop Dogg. Right. There was a moment on the boat there that my mind went to, like, oh, I'm excited to see if this character here in Snoop Dogg can show me some emotion, some anger, some, you know, kind of loving care. Like, this is going to be interesting to see Snoop Dogg in a role like this. Right? And my mind goes all over the place. As someone who, yeah, grew up in the 90s and 2000 kids. Like, yeah, Snoop Dogg was everywhere, right?

[Roger Pokorny]

True crime, New York City, of course. Yeah.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

You put in the freaking tag tournament, too. Of course.

[Snowbike Mike]

Huggy Bear and freaking Starky and Hutch. You know what I mean?

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

Snoop Dogg is the warhammer of rappers.

[Snowbike Mike]

Yes.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

Very accessible.

[Greg Miller]

You Can.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

You'll put him in anything and he'll say yes.

[Greg Miller]

Like, every week he did a Girls Gone Wild video. I mean, you know, is ding, ding, ding, ding, ding. I'm watching whatever. I'm probably watching Monday Night Raw, USA Network and that kind of thing. Snoop Doggs go to the hottest girl.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

That music video for sensual seduction, which it was the explicit version. Sexual eruption. Y' all remember?

[Snowbike Mike]

Yes, I remember this. Oh, yeah.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

Oh, yeah, Mike does. I don't know. Well, explain it further.

[Roger Pokorny]

I'm embarrassed that I brought this up.

[Snowbike Mike]

I'm not mad at the Snoop Dogg inclusion of this. Right. Like, we're coming hot off of Lenny Kravitz and 007 right now. It's like, coming hot off.

[Roger Pokorny]

Coming hot off.

[Snowbike Mike]

We're bringing big names into this to maybe entice people to go, oh, I love Snoop Dogg. Like, I'll give this a try as well.

[Greg Miller]

I don't know.

[Roger Pokorny]

I was. I. I was kind of put off by it. I mean, he wasn't very good in what we saw, and I. I just don't. And also the fact that his son is there, and it's just like, it seems like his son's, like, in it more than. Than him. And it's just like it feels who

[Greg Miller]

I am, but I'm in it.

[Roger Pokorny]

Yeah. And then they. They were showing clips, and it seems like he's like, I think the son's going to be the person that follows him afterwards. Like, I don't know, maybe something happens where. Where Snoop Dogg dies, and then maybe you kill Snoop Dogg and his son follows. That's what about it. But it's like, honestly, like, for me, like, having, like, this gimmick thing, especially if they're gonna be a main character, like, you have to be good. You have to be, like, really good, especially in the voice acting role. And Snoop Dogg. Snoop Dogg. I can't look at you and be like, you're Orpheus.

[Greg Miller]

That's the biggest problem. Right? Yeah. When you put Snoop in something, he's Snoop. Like, what are we doing? He's not gonna.

[Roger Pokorny]

Exactly. Now he's gonna look at his kid unless he's amazing and be like, you're stoop dogs, kid.

[Snowbike Mike]

Well, they said, can we get a feature on the new theme song? And he said, only my kids.

[Greg Miller]

You know how it goes there. I think that's an interesting question to just to pontificate on here. 1915-1929-1943-1951, 1965. Do you think we're spending the lion's share In a certain year. Or do you think are these all getting equal billing to some point as we jump around?

[Roger Pokorny]

Yeah, I hope this is not linear. I think that's like, that's my biggest hope as we're talking. Like, I didn't love when they were like, oh, and then this is the last one. This is Kamurocho. This is where you will end the game. And I'm like, like, all right. Like, I. Unless there's some twist here, which I'm sure you hope there is. In terms of the timeline, I. I think it's more interesting. When we saw the project century, you saw that intro of like, oh, like maybe it's going all around and we're jumping back and forth. But it. I don't know from the vibe, it felt like. Felt like it was linear. Like, felt like a linear vibe.

[Greg Miller]

It feels like, yeah. I mean, who knows how they'll tell it, but it does seem like, yeah,

[Snowbike Mike]

you're get on the boat, get off. Yeah, we go.

[Greg Miller]

Get on, get off. That's 1915.

[Snowbike Mike]

Hell yeah.

[Roger Pokorny]

Yeah.

[Greg Miller]

This is a great presentation. Really. Again, hats off to Xbox in the way they presented it.

[Snowbike Mike]

They did a really good job with this one. Right? We were complaining with the partner direct of like, hey, one of the three big games.

[Greg Miller]

I don't let him off though.

[Snowbike Mike]

One of the three big games was this. And then they were like, guess What? Tune in May 6th. And it was like, all right, there was a lot here. Probably could have sliced in a little bit on that one to entice us. Maybe even just having Snoop Dogg come out and like talk a little bit would have probably been better for that a month ago. But for this right here, Very well done.

[Greg Miller]

Yeah, Snow 13 says yeah, this is a must buy after watching this. Also Blessing Roger, highly recommend Judgment and Lost Judgment. You will not be disappointed at all.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

Maybe I'll get back to it, judge.

[Roger Pokorny]

That's on the list.

[Greg Miller]

That's my question for you. Bless.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

Here is.

[Greg Miller]

You know, you were, if this isn't coming out, I want to go to a yakuza. It's coming out Winter, which we read the tea leaves is not coming out this year.

[Blessing Adeoye Jr.]

I mean, you read the tea leaves that way, but. But you know, could come out this year, December 31st. We have to know. We need more info.

[Greg Miller]

We need more info. And luckily when there is more info, we'll be reporting. I'm kind of funny. Remember, of course, if you only caught this games cast today, there is a second one. You can go watch us react and talk all about the Starcraft Star Fox Nintendo direct. They dropped us out of the blue today.

[Snowbike Mike]

Imagine if it was Starcraft that would have been lit.

[Greg Miller]

That would have been the that set the world on fire. Blizzard's like hold my beer here I'll toss this one at you. And then of course there is a 20 minute 20 minute stream of American Chopper you can go check out right now. Professor YT super chats and says Psycho Mantis. I see you've been playing American Chopper everybody. This is another episode of the Gamescast and the end of our programming day. A rare late night here on kinda funny at 5:13pm Pacific. Of course we'll be back tomorrow morning 10am with kinda funny Games daily Right into the Gamescast, right into the stream. Maybe there's some other kind of programming happening. I can never keep it straight anymore. We did interview today. Oh no interview would be tomorrow. This should be an interview tomorrow. Everybody, until next time, it's been our pleasure to serve you.